Classical Fields and Newton's 2nd Postulate of Motion

In summary: I don't know.mass really plays 3 roles in physics: (1) It acts as a source of a gravitational field. (2) It is affected by a gravitational field. (3) It acts as a...something else?charge?mass really plays 3 roles in physics: (1) It acts as a source of a gravitational field. (2) It is affected by a gravitational field. (3) It acts as an inertial charge.
  • #1
dr_k
69
0
Although I retired from active physics research almost 2 decades ago, there's a question that has annoyed/intrigued me for almost 40 years...

In Classical Field Theory, matter has 2 intrinsic properties, namely mass and charge. Given Newton's 2nd Postulate, [tex]{\bf F}_{net} = m {\bf a},[/tex] I've always wondered why the expansion/contraction, m, of the acceleration [tex]{\bf a}[/tex] isn't a scalar function of mass and charge, i.e. [tex]{\bf F}_{net} = f(m,q) {\bf a}[/tex] where f(m,q) = m + (negligible terms) except in extreme/rare situations that are experimental outliers, e.g. extreme cosmological physical situations. Although Newton's 2nd Postulate is...an a priori postulate, an educated guess that agrees w/ common everyday classical empirical phenomena, is there any mathematical basis, from Classical Field theory, that forces [tex]f(m,q) = m[/tex] precisely?
 
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  • #2
Well, that's what we observe from experiment. There's nothing to suggest deviations from [itex]f(m,q)=m[/itex].
 
  • #3
elfmotat said:
Well, that's what we observe from experiment. There's nothing to suggest deviations from [itex]f(m,q)=m[/itex].

I agree w/ your assertion. Newton's 2nd Postulate agrees wonderfully w/ all our observed phenomena...so far. My query is very specific though. Is there a mathematical line of logic, from Classical Field Theory and/or or GR, that forces the scalar f(m,q) to precisely be m?...Not a proof of [itex]{\bf F}_{net} = m {\bf a}[/itex], which is impossible since it's an axiomatic postulate.

It's conceivable that there are extreme cosmological phenomena that might possibly disagree w/ f(m,q) = m.

:)
 
  • #4
How is q defined?
 
  • #5
I would say that the two intrinsic parameters are gravitational mass and charge. They would appear on the left side of the equation, where the force is, since thy characterize interactions. What appears on the right side is inertial mass, which characterizes another property, and charge has nothing to do with that property.
 
  • #6
aty and martin,

For lack of a more vivid imagination, I would call q, in f(m,q), the "inertial charge" analogous to the "inertial mass" m in f(m,q).

f(m,q) = m + (negligible terms), except in instances perhaps not yet encountered, would imply the definition of "inertial mass" would be modified into a definition where "inertial mass and charge" would have relationships to both Newton's Postulate of Gravity and Coulomb's Electrostatic Postulate.

Simply, isolate a single point test particle, with classical intrinsic properties mass and charge, which can experience fields set up by external source charges and masses, and ask yourself, why is the expansion/contraction of acceleration in Newton's 2nd Postulate of Motion, [itex]{\bf F}_{net} = m {\bf a}[/itex], not affected by charge? Newton's 2nd Postulate and Coulomb's Electrostatic Postulate are separated by ~ 125 years, so I wouldn't expect Newton to postulate a f(m,q), but still, it's an annoying question that still puzzles me. Is is possible that f(m,q) = m + (neglible terms) where we have yet to see situations where the (negligible terms) could be measured?

I posed the query here on the off chance that a GR/Classical Field specialist might know a mathematical proof that forces f(m,q) to precisely equal the inertial m.

Thanks for your time.
 
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  • #7
Following martinbn's lead, Newton's second law is F=ka, where k is not necessarily q or m. In Newtonian gravity k is proportional to m, an expression of the principle of equivalence.

The principle of equivalence can be derived from the quantum field theory of a relativistic massless spin 2 field, eg. section 2.2.2 of http://arxiv.org/abs/1007.0435
 
  • #8
atyy said:
Following martinbn's lead, Newton's second law is F=ka, where k is not necessarily q or m. In Newtonian gravity k is proportional to m, an expression of the principle of equivalence.

The principle of equivalence can be derived from the quantum field theory of a relativistic massless spin 2 field, eg. section 2.2.2 of http://arxiv.org/abs/1007.0435

aty,
Thanks for your input, I'll read that paper. I could be wrong, but I see a little bit of circular logic here: the principal of equivalence uses the 2nd Postulate [itex]{\bf F}_{net}=m{\bf a}[/itex] as an a priori assumption to show acceleration is independent of the role of test mass versus source mass, i.e. inertial versus gravitational mass. If f(m,q) actually is a function of the test charge, or "inertial charge", then the principal of equivalence would also need to be modified to include the "inertial charge".

I don't mean to waste everyone's time, and there's no doubt that all observed data currently agrees with f(m,q) = m; I suppose it's just a thought experiment that continues to bother me.

Again, thanks for your time.
 
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  • #9
dr_k, I don't understand why you need to introduce inertial charge. Inertial mass, by definition, is that coefficient in front of the acceleration.
 
  • #10
dr_k said:
For lack of a more vivid imagination, I would call q, in f(m,q), the "inertial charge" analogous to the "inertial mass" m in f(m,q).

I'm not sure what the analogy is. Mass really plays 3 roles in physics: (1) It acts as a source of a gravitational field. (2) It is affected by a gravitational field. (3) It acts as a "resistance" to acceleration (because of F=ma, acceleration is inversely proportional to mass, when F is held constant). Newton's third law (equal and opposite forces) implies that the masses associated with (1) and (2) are equal, and the equivalence principle (or alternatively, the universality of freefall) insures that the masses associated with (2) and (3) are proportional (if not equal). It's number (3) that is called "inertial mass".

In the case of charge, you still have (1) and (2): charge can be the source of an electric field, and it is affected by an electric field. But I don't see what could correspond to (3). So I don't see the role for an "inertial charge".
 
  • #11
martinbn said:
dr_k, I don't understand why you need to introduce inertial charge. Inertial mass, by definition, is that coefficient in front of the acceleration.

Good Afternoon Martin and Steven,

Suppose I postulate that Newton's 2nd Postulate be modified, such that [itex]{\bf F}_{net} = f(m,q) {\bf a}[/itex]. Then I postulate that f(m,q) is a series where the first term is "inertial mass" m, and the second term is a function of the test particle's inertial mass m and charge q, which I will call "inertial charge" for lack of a better term. This second term in the series, and all subsequent terms, have never been noticed since they are so small they fall within the current experimental error bars for [itex]m_{grav} = m_{inertial}+/- error[/itex].

Perhaps the "inertial charge", the intrinsic property of the isolated test charge, needs to be extremely large to be noticed in terrestrial experiments. One can attain extremely large [itex]{\bf E}[/itex]-fields, on the "pointy bits" of isolated conductors in electrostatic equilibrium, with relatively small q, since they occur at extremely small radii of curvature, but perhaps an extremely large test charge concentration, w/o dielectric breakdown of the surrounding medium, required to show the existence of the second term in f(m,q), has never been attained...yet.
 
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  • #12
dr_k said:
Suppose I postulate that Newton's 2nd Postulate be modified, such that [itex]{\bf F}_{net} = f(m,q) {\bf a}[/itex]. Then I postulate that f(m,q) is a series where the first term is "inertial mass" m, and the second term is a function of the test particle's inertial mass m and charge q, which I will call "inertial charge" for lack of a better term. This second term in the series, and all subsequent terms, have never been noticed since they are so small they fall within the current experimental error bars for [itex]m_{grav} = m_{inertial}+/- error[/itex].

That's certainly possible - the error bars are tight indeed but they're not zero.

I'm inclined to reject any unobserved higher-order terms, but that's an aesthetic preference not a logically reasoned one:
1) GR as a theory provides a very elegant explanation for the complete equality of gravitational and inertial mass.
2) Absent experimental data, introducing those hypothetical higher-order terms neither simplifies any problem for me nor advances my understanding.

So what I have is pretty and it works for me, so I'm inclined to stick with it as long as keeps on working, there are no hard counterexamples, and no one has come up with anything prettier.
 
  • #13
Nugatory said:
That's certainly possible - the error bars are tight indeed but they're not zero.

I'm inclined to reject any unobserved higher-order terms, but that's an aesthetic preference not a logically reasoned one:
1) GR as a theory provides a very elegant explanation for the complete equality of gravitational and inertial mass.
2) Absent experimental data, introducing those hypothetical higher-order terms neither simplifies any problem for me nor advances my understanding.

So what I have is pretty and it works for me, so I'm inclined to stick with it as long as keeps on working, there are no hard counterexamples, and no one has come up with anything prettier.

Your comments are rational, and precise. My query is only conjecture, one that has been w/ me for decades...just something, for me, to think about...I thought I would run it by the Big Brains that I've encountered here. Aside: I've run this by many a physics compatriot over the years and received the same response. It is an aesthetic avenue, on my part, since I don't understand why Newton's 2nd Postulate, experimentally, doesn't incorporate the second intrinsic property of classical matter.

Martin, here's a picture that might help to explain my inadequate words:

http://i45.tinypic.com/rid79t.jpg
 
  • #15
dr_k said:
Arrghhh. This picture is one where I made some assumptions. A more general picture is:
http://i48.tinypic.com/hs6ssw.jpg

If I understand the gist of this, then, in the context of classical (geometric) GR, where gravity is not a force at all, the suggestion amounts to saying that for a charged particle, the mass you use in 4-momentum (which leads to force), and mass you put in the stress energy tensor (acting as source of gravity) are slightly different. It is not immediately clear to me what implications that would have. Note that for a charged particle, EM field already causes it to contribute differently as a gravitational source than a neutral particle of the same mass. So are you suggesting an additional difference?

(I interpret you suggestion as saying inertial mass is your f(m,q), and gravitational mass is m).
 
  • #16
dr_k said:
is there any mathematical basis, from Classical Field theory, that forces [tex]f(m,q) = m[/tex] precisely?
Hmm, this is an interesting question.

Let's suppose that F=f(m,q)a. Then let M=f(m,q). So we would have F=Ma. Then all of the things that used to depend on m now depend on M. So I don't think that there is any difference between F=ma and F=f(m,q)a.

In other words, we measure mass and charge for each fundamental particle. If F=f(m,q)a then the mass we would measure and put in our tables would be M. But we wouldn't be able to detect any difference between that and a universe where the masses in the tables were m and F=ma held.
 
  • #17
PAllen said:
(I interpret you suggestion as saying inertial mass is your f(m,q), and gravitational mass is m).

PAllen and Dale,

The most general picture that I can draw is http://i48.tinypic.com/hs6ssw.jpg ,

where Newton's 2nd Postulate is [itex]{\bf F}_{net} = f(q_I,m_I) {\bf a}[/itex] , here [itex]m_I[/itex] is the inertial mass and [itex]q_I[/itex] is the "inertial charge", Coulomb's Electrostatic Postulate is [itex]{\bf F}_{q_{Coulomb}} = q_{Coulomb} {\bf E}[/itex], and Newton's Postulate of Gravity is [itex]{\bf F}_{m_{grav}} = m_{grav}~{\bf g}[/itex].

[itex]{\bf g}[/itex] and [itex]{\bf E}[/itex] are fields, created by external [itex]m'[/itex] s and [itex]q'[/itex] s.

Then I postulate that the expansion/contraction of the acceleration in Newton's 2nd Postulate is dominated by the first term, the inertial mass, [itex] f(q_I,m_I) = f_0 + f_1 +... = m_I + f_1(q_I,m_I) + ...[/itex], such that

[itex] {\bf g} = (\frac{m_I}{m_{grav}} + \frac{f_1(q_I,m_I)}{m_{grav}} + ...) {\bf a} - \frac{q_{Coulomb}}{m_{grav}} {\bf E}[/itex]

At this point I can make different assumptions, does [itex]m_I = m_{grav}[/itex] and/or does [itex]q_I = q_{Coulomb}[/itex]?

For example, if we assume [itex]m_{grav} = m_I \equiv m[/itex], and [itex]q_{Coulomb} = q_I \equiv q[/itex], in the absence of an external [itex]{\bf E}[/itex], we'd get

[itex] {\bf g} = (1 + \frac{f_1(q,m)}{m} + ...){\bf a}[/itex].

This conjecture of mine has always been based upon the idea that perhaps the higher order terms in [itex]f(q_I,m_I)[/itex] haven't been experimentally noticed, whether [itex]m_I = m_{grav}[/itex] and/or [itex]q_I = q_{Coulomb}[/itex] or not, since perhaps the charge required to notice the next term, [itex]{f_1(q_I,m_I)}[/itex], is extraordinarily large. For example, to get a mere 1C of charge, on an isolated conducting shell in electrostatic equilibrium, would require a radius of ~55m w/o atmospheric dielectric breakdown. [itex]f_1(q_I,m_I)[/itex] would, of course, have physical units of mass, so its functional dependence on q is complete conjecture, except that it hasn't been noticed yet.

Again, everyone, thanks for humouring this old man in his dotage. :)
 
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  • #18
dr_k said:
where Newton's 2nd Postulate is [itex]{\bf F}_{net} = f(q_I,m_I) {\bf a}[/itex] , here [itex]m_I[/itex] is the inertial mass
This doesn't work. By DEFINITION inertial mass is the proportionality between force and acceleration: [itex]F=m_I a[/itex] (by definition of inertial mass). So if you also have [itex]F=f(q_I,m_I)a[/itex] (by postulate) then you immediately get [itex]f(q_I,m_I)=m_I[/itex], which is not what you want.

You can have [itex]f(q_I,m_{grav})[/itex] and still have an interesting question, but whatever m and q you put in there, by definition [itex]m_I=f(q,m)[/itex]

It seems to me that your question reduces to asking about the equivalence of gravitational and inertial mass.
 
  • #19
DaleSpam said:
This doesn't work. By DEFINITION inertial mass is the proportionality between force and acceleration: [itex]F=m_I a[/itex] (by definition of inertial mass). So if you also have [itex]F=f(q_I,m_I)a[/itex] (by postulate) then you immediately get [itex]f(q_I,m_I)=m_I[/itex], which is not what you want.

You can have [itex]f(q_I,m_{grav})[/itex] and still have an interesting question, but whatever m and q you put in there, by definition [itex]m_I=f(q,m)[/itex]

It seems to me that your question reduces to asking about the equivalence of gravitational and inertial mass.

Bear with me here, [itex]m_I[/itex] is a new definition that denotes one of the two intrinsic properties of matter, [itex]m_I[/itex] and [itex]q_I[/itex], such that the "new" [itex]m_I[/itex] is not defined to be "the proportionality between net force and acceleration", but part of a scalar function [itex]f(q_I, m_I)[/itex] that expands/contracts the acceleration in Newton's 2nd Postulate. A scalar function with a first dominant term whose current interpretation is "the proportionality between force and acceleration". This new [itex]m_I[/itex] may or may not be equivalent to [itex]m_{grav}[/itex].

For those who design langrangians to see what the action spits out, it may be an interesting exercise.

This is just a thought experiment that changes axiomatic definitions and postulates, to see how/if things change.
 
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  • #20
dr_k said:
Bear with me here, [itex]m_I[/itex] is a new definition
Then don't call it "inertial mass", because that is already defined and is f(q,m). I wouldn't even use a subscript "I" for it, since people will naturally assume that you mean "inertial mass".

You should think about how you would measure your third mass.
 
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  • #21
DaleSpam said:
Then don't call it "inertial mass", because that is already defined and is f(q,m). I wouldn't even use a subscript "I" for it, since people will naturally assume that you mean "inertial mass".

You should think about how you would measure your third mass.

Thanks for your input.

I wouldn't interpret there being 3 masses, just 2. Let [itex]m_I[/itex] and [itex]q_I[/itex] stand for the intrinsic properties of matter, mass and charge, for an isolated test particle. They are part of the scalar function [itex]f(q_I,m_I)[/itex] that expands/contracts the acceleration in Newton's 2nd Postulate of Motion. [itex]m_{grav}[/itex], on the other hand, is defined by Newton's Postulate of Gravity, and [itex]q_{Coulomb}[/itex] is defined by Coulomb's Electrostatic Postulate. The series expansion of [itex]f(q_I,m_I)[/itex] gives, to first order, a term [itex]m_I[/itex] which is currently called the "inertial mass", where [itex]m_{inertial}\equiv m_I[/itex].

This is my fault, for being so vague w/ my words. I appreciate your input. Thanks.
 
  • #22
dr_k said:
Thanks for your input.

I wouldn't interpret there being 3 masses, just 2. Let [itex]m_I[/itex] and [itex]q_I[/itex] stand for the intrinsic properties of matter, mass and charge, for an isolated test particle. They are part of the scalar function [itex]f(q_I,m_I)[/itex] that expands/contracts the acceleration in Newton's 2nd Postulate of Motion. [itex]m_{grav}[/itex], on the other hand, is defined by Newton's Postulate of Gravity, and [itex]q_{Coulomb}[/itex] is defined by Coulomb's Electrostatic Postulate. The series expansion of [itex]f(q_I,m_I)[/itex] gives, to first order, a term [itex]m_I[/itex] which is currently called the "inertial mass", where [itex]m_{inertial}\equiv m_I[/itex].

This is my fault, for being so vague w/ my words. I appreciate your input. Thanks.

You don't seem to have responded to my description of the GR take on this (this is the relativity forum, not the classical physics forum). In GR, it is already true that a charged particle of mass m contributes differently as a gravitational source than a neutral particle (where m is the the inertial mass defined by force and proper acceleration).

So, if you take m to be gravitational source mass, and f(m,q) to be <= m(grav), then GR already incorporates your idea, in a way. If you want to make f(m,q) >= m(grav), then it appears to me your concept is inherently counter factual, given the strength of evidence for GR.
 
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  • #23
dr_k said:
The series expansion of [itex]f(q_I,m_I)[/itex] gives, to first order, a term [itex]m_I[/itex] which is currently called the "inertial mass", where [itex]m_{inertial}\equiv m_I[/itex].
No, what is currently called the "inertial mass" is your [itex]f(q_I,m_I)[/itex]. This is not just to first order, this is exact. The DEFINITION of inertial mass, m, is m=F/a.

You are positing a third mass, "intrinsic mass", which is related to inertial mass, m, by [itex]m=f(q_I,m_I)[/itex].

Do you see that now? I don't know how I can be more clear.

You can measure the gravitational mass using a balance scale. You can then measure the inertial mass by dropping the object and measuring the acceleration. I cannot think of a way to measure the intrinsic mass.
 
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  • #24
PAllen said:
You don't seem to have responded to my description of the GR take on this (this is the relativity forum, not the classical physics forum). In GR, it is already true that a charged particle of mass m contributes differently as a gravitational source than a neutral particle (where m is the the inertial mass defined by force and proper acceleration).

So, if you take m to be gravitational source mass, and f(m,q) to be < m, then GR already incorporates your idea, in a way. If you want to make f(m,q) >= m(grav), then it appears to me your concept is inherently counter factual, give the strength of evidence for GR.

Dale and PAllen,

I placed my thread in this forum to get expert GR opinions; I appreciate your input. GR was not my specialty. I will ponder your recent comments. Thanks again.
 
  • #25
You are welcome. I would strongly encourage you to think about how to measure your "intrinsic mass". Unless you can come up with some independent way to measure it then all you have is [itex]m=f(q_I,m_I)[/itex] which is kind of one equation in two unknowns (f and [itex]m_I[/itex]). You simply won't have enough information to do it.
 
  • #26
As DaleSpam said, there is inertial mass u, gravitational charge m, and electrical charge q. I don't believe there is any mathematical necessity in classical physics for u to be proportional to m or q. In Newtonian mechanics, the equivalence principle is put in by hand u=m. In GR the equivalence principle is also put in by hand using minimal coupling. In quantum mechanics, there is apparently Weinberg's low energy theorem for relativistic spin 2 particles in which the equivalence principle is derived.

So for each particle the force laws should go something like:

Gm1m2/r2 + Gm1m3/r2 + ... + Kq1q2/r2 + Kq1q3/r2 + ... = u1a1

I haven't thought it through, but I wonder if DaleSpams's concern about the number of equations for arbitrary ui for each particle can be answered with enough particles and particle configurations?
 
  • #27
atyy said:
I wonder if DaleSpams's concern about the number of equations for arbitrary ui for each particle can be answered with enough particles and particle configurations?
I considered that, but I can't think of how you would determine an unknown function of an unknown parameter regardless of the amount of data. I think if you know the function then you can fit the parameter with sufficient data, and if you know the parameter you can approximate the function as close as you like with sufficient data, but I don't see how you can do both even with an infinite amount of data.
 
  • #28
DaleSpam said:
I considered that, but I can't think of how you would determine an unknown function of an unknown parameter regardless of the amount of data. I think if you know the function then you can fit the parameter with sufficient data, and if you know the parameter you can approximate the function as close as you like with sufficient data, but I don't see how you can do both even with an infinite amount of data.

Yes, that doesn't seem possible for an arbitrary function since that would be (assuming analyticity) an infinite number of Taylor coefficients.
 

FAQ: Classical Fields and Newton's 2nd Postulate of Motion

What is the concept of classical fields?

The concept of classical fields refers to the idea that certain physical quantities, such as electric and magnetic fields, can be described as continuous and pervasive throughout space. These fields are governed by mathematical equations and can interact with matter to produce various forces and effects.

What is Newton's 2nd postulate of motion?

Newton's 2nd postulate of motion, also known as the law of acceleration, states that the acceleration of an object is directly proportional to the net force acting on the object and inversely proportional to its mass. In other words, the greater the force applied to an object, the greater its acceleration will be, and the more massive an object is, the less it will accelerate under the same force.

How does Newton's 2nd postulate relate to classical fields?

In classical physics, the interaction between particles and fields is described by Newton's 2nd postulate of motion. The force acting on a particle due to a field is directly proportional to the strength of the field and the charge/mass of the particle. This relationship allows us to predict the motion of particles in the presence of classical fields.

Can Newton's 2nd postulate be applied to all types of motion?

No, Newton's 2nd postulate of motion is limited to objects that are moving at slow speeds compared to the speed of light and in the absence of strong gravitational fields. It is most accurate for objects in everyday situations and is not applicable in the realm of quantum mechanics or at the scale of subatomic particles.

How does the concept of classical fields contribute to our understanding of the universe?

The concept of classical fields is crucial in explaining various natural phenomena, from the behavior of charged particles to the propagation of light. It also plays a significant role in the development of technologies such as electromagnets, radio waves, and particle accelerators. Understanding classical fields has helped us unravel the fundamental laws that govern the universe and continues to aid us in furthering our knowledge of the physical world.

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